isabellahawkes
Baby Adult
Genre fiction writer. Dabbles in everything else. Very much trying to navigate my "baby adult" phase.
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Compilation by myself
A couple years ago, I ran a test newsletter out. I ran into some complications at the time, but now I've decided to start it up again. Sign up for my newsletter on my newly updated website to get bi-weekly blog content on goal setting, mental health, and writing. I will also be sharing excerpts of creative projects I'm working on, that way I don't have to keep everything secret for too long.
Until next time, have a great life!
#writerblr#short fiction#writing process#creative writing#my writing#newsletter#photoedits#photo edit#vision#vision board
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"Illuminations" is a sci-fi survivalist short story, available on my website for free! You can also find it on my Medium profile.
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Simple Writing Advice I Wish I Followed When I Was Struggling
I’ve been struggling with my writing process for the past year and a half. I started writing down advice, some of which I never hear, and some of which I’ve heard but it didn’t resonate until now. Hopefully this helps you if you feel stuck in your writing process.
1) Don’t hold tightly to a plan, outline, or concept. A major thing that stifles the quality, and sometimes the joy of, a story is holding too tightly to your original idea. Creating a story comes from our brains, but the truth is that we typically “find” a story more often than we perfectly construct it. This obviously feeds into the debate over whether you should plot your story before drafting it, or if you should discover the story as you write it. I personally cannot construct a full outline for a story because I get my best ideas through the process of writing. I’m also really impatient, so with my personality type, it’s better for me to plot at a bare minimum, and start writing until eventually more ideas start flowing. If you do outline, and then you discover a better idea that would change the story as you’re writing it, just go with that idea.
2) Embrace your process, even if it’s messy. Don’t base your writing process on what theoretically will make your work cleaner at the beginning. This is a specific piece of advice because I tried an approach to writing that was practically like rewriting the same chapter over and over so it would be clean to edit. I would write the dialogue and the skeletons of every scene first, and then I would write the whole thing over again with narrative. This idea might actually work for some people (so you should try it), but I will explain why it didn’t for me. It made the writing process so technical. I wasn’t personally immersed in writing the story. I was trying to be more efficient, and have a cleaner “first” draft. I’m not saying you shouldn’t try this method. But if you do try it, and find that you don’t like it, then it doesn’t actually “work” for you.
3) Don’t keep starting over your manuscript. There’s this one project that I was working on for years, only to realize that I needed to rewrite most of it. This is perfectly fine. But instead of finishing that first draft and seeing where it took me, I just started over when I had 25% left of the draft. I have started this project over around 6 times. If you count all of the outlines, it’s closer to 10 times. I’m not saying you should never start over writing your manuscript, but I do recommend not doing it more than once. I wrote the pilot episode draft of an adaptation, and I started over only once, after I had finished the first draft. It’s the most successful I’ve been moving forward with a project (which is still progressing so slowly). I think the most helpful writing advice for me is just to keep writing and push against writer’s block. If you have a passion for a project, don’t give up on the draft you’re on until you’ve found an ending to it.
4) Don’t take one person’s writing advice as the guide book for what your writing process should look like. The process that works best for you will be more efficient and, more importantly, fun for you. There’s nothing wrong with trying out new techniques, but sometimes we just choose to emulate other writers because we don’t trust ourselves. I feel like the writing community in certain corners online is obsessed with finding a formula for the “correct” writing process. I don’t think it’s necessary to cling to another writer’s piece of advice because you like them as a figure. I want to reiterate this because it sounds like common sense, but it’s also a trap I’ve fallen into. I would convince myself that my most efficient process was like a big time author’s, even when it was so apparent that it wasn’t because I would get stuck in the process every time.
5) The gist is, what is a vital part of your writing process? I don’t like outlining. I’ll do rough skeleton outlines for projects. However, I get stuck in the earliest phases of drafting every single time when I’m trying to have everything planned out in advance. Some plotters will argue that my outline just isn’t good enough. I’ll agree, because I don’t like outlining as much as I like drafting. The farthest I’ve ever progressed on an original story was when I kept drafting until I really hit my stride and figured out where I wanted the story to go. I regret that I didn’t finish that draft. I stopped because I realized I would need to rewrite most of it, as what I’d ended up writing would be better as the second book in the series instead. So I stopped that draft, instead of seeing it through to the end so I could have a better idea of where I wanted the overall story to go. This was a huge mistake I made, and I’m convinced it’s why I’ve never been able to even construct a definitive outline for the first book. I’m a writer who values drafting more than planning. I also value editing (don’t worry, plotters). So what makes the writing process more efficient and fun for me is not worrying about the first draft because I know I can fix everything in the editing stages.
What counts as a vital part of your writing process? What writing advice do you wish you had followed sooner?
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This is really important for any creative struggling with mental illness.
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Book Review: Shut Up And Write The Book | Jenna Moreci |
Screenshot of my version on iBooks.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of Jenna Moreci’s Shut Up And Write The Book in exchange for an honest review — which, I have to admit, I am late to doing. Moreci’s first writing craft book was published January 24th of 2023. Yeah…I’m pretty late.
Jenna Moreci is a popular AuthorTuber, most known for her YouTube channel “Writing with Jenna Moreci,” and her bestselling dark fantasy romance series The Savior’s Series. I found Moreci’s YouTube channel almost six years ago, and her channel was the big push for me to take my dreams of becoming a professional writer more seriously. I’ve read all four of her current published works. I plan on reviewing each of them, because I had a fun time reading this book specifically for a review. I actually plan on rereading this book soon because I did find a lot of useful information from this book.
Spoilers: I liked Shut Up And Write The Book overall. This was actually the first real writing craft book I’ve read all the way through. I read one writing craft book about adaptation practices that was published some time ago, but I only read certain sections for my own benefit. Therefore, due to my inexperience with reading writing craft books, my personal opinion is coming from how informative I think this book would be for fiction writers of different stages, and does not have any comparison to other writing craft books.
Rating
Due to my lack of experience with writing craft— and nonfiction books in general — the highest rating I can give this book is a 4 out of 5 stars, because I generally don’t enjoy reading nonfiction, especially craft or research based books.
Tone
I find nonfiction tends to be dry in general. Though I do think Shut Up And Write The Book is also dry at parts, Moreci does infuse a lot of her personal voice into the writing. Fans of Moreci’s YouTube channel will like this book for Moreci’s voice alone. Moreci does write as she orates in her YouTube videos — like a tough-love, hardass mentor, who occasionally feels like a friend. For those who don’t really enjoy Moreci’s style of her videos, the tone may be enough to turn them away. However, trying to view the writing of this book “objectively”, I would say that for those unfamiliar with Moreci’s style, they likely will find the tone more amusing and engaging than the average writing craft book. However, there are parts where maybe some readers will find the tone slightly obnoxious. The repeated reference of “but Jenna” from her YouTube videos may also be confusing for those new to Moreci’s content.
Structure
I think that the order of what Moreci covers in this book is logical. At one point, Moreci has a chapter on deciding the genre and subgenre of a novel before sending it out for professional edits. As someone who has followed her channel for six years, I was under the impression that Moreci advised things like researching genres and the publishing industry before or while writing your novel. Whether she’s still giving that advice on her channel or not, her focus in Shut Up And Write The Book is narrowed to a one step by step process (for the most part), which I think is much more helpful. The structure of this book is methodical and thorough.
The Actual Advice
Moreci’s advice is detailed, yet concise. Sometimes she will set up a straw man to prove her point, which can be overdone. However, her advice in general is detailed on the topics she does talk about.
This is a writing craft book that covers the basics only, though there are many basics. There are times when the lack of going beyond the basics can be frustrating in this book. In her chapter on tenses, Moreci does not cover future tense, and actively discourages writers from using it because it’s too hard to use. She also lists a bunch of different types of tenses in past and present, but doesn’t go into them. For me personally, I prefer a more thorough dissection of topics if they’re going to be presented. There was also a chapter that covered story structures, but only did a brief overview of three out of six that were mentioned. Moreci makes up for this lack of detail by providing her personal story structure outline, which I did find interesting and insightful.
Though there are a few instances of this — where Moreci teases that she’ll cover certain topics in depth and then she doesn’t deliver — her book overall is in-depth within most everything she brings up. Even though this book is most likely best for brand new writers, there are still some tips that would be useful for more seasoned writers to consider. I feel like this book is particularly good for anyone who hasn’t gone through the self-editing or professional editing process — basically for those who haven’t published a book yet.
Would I Recommend It?
I would recommend this book to writers who are 1) just getting started, 2) have never finished a manuscript, and 3) writers who want to brush up on the basics of writing and storytelling whenever they feel jaded by the writing process.
I’m a writer who has technically been writing for a decade, but I haven’t published a novel (I’m young) — though I have completed rough drafts for television episodes. For where I’m at in the writing process, the most engaging section for me was the last third of the book that covers the things to do after finishing a rough draft, namely the editing stages.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the useful information and structure of Shut Up And Write The Book.
Have you read Moreci’s first writing craft book? If so, what are your thoughts? What stage of the writing process are you in?
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Still Same: Two Poems
April May
The April showers brought a May flower. But in the deluge, it drowned.
Sit
The voices are too loud, even now.
They’re distracting when there’s no sound.
I can’t sit with myself
That’s how I know I need help.
Create and catharsis,
That’s all that I want.
But I’ve made a habit
of distraction, stress, and burnout.
I can’t sit still.
I need to figure myself out.
Another diagnosis and dogma
But in the end I’m still with myself.
I’ve made a habit to hate my reflection.
So when the session’s over,
I go back to wandering.
Never being satisfied,
always pondering.
In the end, never
Living.
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A musing on confidence, nostalgia, past selves, and what ifs.
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Excerpt from New Short Story: Phantom
“When I was a kid, I was scared of the loft. The guest room doors would creak open. Sometimes there was a shadow. Never fully formed, but tall. Thin. There was a vague shape of the head, hair cut short. The shadow would sometimes lean against the railing of the loft, as if looking down over the living room. Sometimes it would be standing in front of the window. Occasionally, the shadow even descended the stairs. I would hear my grandpa whistling, but when I would look around in relief, I could never find him. It felt like a separate world, a shadow world, being in the loft.
“I used to be so afraid. And the fear would only heighten the excitement when I’d venture up the stairs to the loft night after night, wanting to engage with the shadow. The shadow would usually pace around the loft, and then disappear, never paying me any mind. At times, I convinced myself the shadow was a figment of my imagination.”
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A free short story on the inevitability of grief.
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$5 tarot readings for any kind of reading! General, love, spiritual, etc. All for $5!
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Free on my website
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Journals 2-4: Moral Fatigue
Journal 2: Righteousness
“Speak up. They’re trying to silence you. They’re trying to shame you. But we’re standing up for what’s right.” That’s what they think too.
After a while, the battle for human rights — and we can never agree on which humans have rights — becomes a battle for who can be the loudest. Louder equals more righteous. Louder equals courage.
It also signals ignorance, doesn’t it?
I don’t want to be the most righteous anymore. I actually don’t care about righteousness. Neither do you, if you were being honest with yourself.
If we all actually cared about righteousness, we would do a lot more. We would speak up a lot more. Our lives would not revolve around ourselves, but around others.
But we want to live our own lives. And we want to be right.
We don’t care about injustice as much as we think we should.
Religious people think we’re given a moral code, but they don’t follow that code themselves. I’m not convinced we do have a moral code.
I’m tired of feeling like I have to stand up. I just want to stand up when I feel the need to, when it’s compassion driving me. And yet somehow not get angry at those who actually would try to silence me.
I don’t want to be angry and right anymore. I don’t always want to be moral. I just want to live my own life, and do the best things for that life.
And it’s hard because I still feel angry at others who are doing the same thing.
Journal 3: Ignorance
I’m still hurt. My space was taken up by people who just took advantage of me. And most of them probably didn’t know it. But I’m sure someone thought of it. I’m sure at least one person knew, and liked getting under my skin.
Which is worse? Someone being ignorant of the pain they cause? Or someone who knows they’re inflicting pain, and just enjoys it?
Either way, it’s a reflection on them. But our bodies don’t know that. Our bodies, our minds, our souls, just feel pain.
And after a while, when every other being causes you pain, it can feel like, what’s the point in trying to connect with anyone ever again?
Am I the problem, or is it everyone else? And what do I even want the answer to be?
Journal 4: Love Lost
I feel like I’m ready to move on. I feel like I’m ready to be happy again. But then I’ll remember when I was still naive, when there was still a spark of life inside of me. I’ll remember how good that felt.
And then I’ll remember that I lost that love in the first place.
Nothing lasts forever. And I’m tired of love leading to hope leading to hurt over and over again. How many times do I have to start over? Or should I just wander forever? Is that the only way to move on?
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Just $3 today and you could read 1 piece of writing from me!
“Remembrance” is practically a journal entry that I hope to do something with in the future. For now, it’s just me sharing my thoughts and memories of my late grandmother, who passed away a year ago today.
For anyone who’s mourning, maybe this will be helpful/cathartic in some way.
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Journal Entry 1: On Criticism & Change
Thoughts after a challenging, pointless debate.
I’m really struggling to write. I’m struggling to blog more than anything. Blogging is hard. Coming up with a topic. Sticking just to that topic. Trying to deliver your points as effectively as possible. And then ultimately deciding you can’t post, not today. Only when you have the strength to publish something, knowing it will get backlash.
I struggle to sympathize with hateful people. Everyone does, but no one acknowledges when they themselves are being hateful. Everyone has a “reason” or a “purpose” for being hateful.
Criticism is a hard thing to face. Especially when you’ve built most of your persona up to be agreeable your whole life. People say whatever they want around you, or to you, when you’re agreeable. They feel comfortable, I guess. Comfortable expressing their innermost rage, their disgust. Contempt is something we have to keep stifled, but it’s not good for us.
Would the world be easier to live in if we all just were prepared to face contempt, knowing it’s actually not about us, but about the other person’s perception? Because many of us are prepared for that, and we still get wounded. We still get assaulted. We still get killed.
When is it okay to scream at someone? Should you speak up, knowing people you love will demonize you? Knowing you can’t even make family see your perspective, because they don’t care to?
Most importantly, how do you find the courage to speak? And be okay with the vitriol?
How do you accept the world, and love it, and still change it?
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